Detachable shield for tactical equipment box

ABSTRACT

A detachable shield for tactical equipment box has a rectangular form, an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, a long first edge and a second edge, at least two hinges upon the first edge that cooperate with second hinges mounted to a box, a second lock component that cooperates with a prime lock component mounted to a box opposite the second hinges, and a handle joined to the inner surface. The first hinges, handle, and second lock component join to the shield without fracturing it. The first hinges separate from the second hinges so that a law enforcement officer can take the shield from the box for use as protection from projectiles. In an alternate embodiment, the second component joins to the inner surface along with a reinforcing strip along the second edge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This nonprovisional application claims priority to pending provisional application No. 61/978589 with a filing date of Apr. 11, 2014 which is owned by the same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The detachable shield for tactical equipment box generally relates to law enforcement equipment and more specifically to a shield that locks upon a box storing weapons therein.

For centuries, merchants, banks, corporations, people of means, and others have transported high value cargo. The cargo has such value that its container must survive a failure of its transportation and corruption of persons who handle it. High value cargo travels within containers of great strength and limited access to open them.

In olden days, high value cargo, such as gold or jewels, travelled in strongboxes. Such strongboxes had a rigid construction with reinforced edges and intricate locking mechanism. Even if a strongbox fell off a transport vehicle or the vehicle caught fire, the strongbox kept its cargo safe. In modern times, high value cargo travels in armored vehicles with less corruptible handlers and guards.

High value cargo also includes firearms and other weapons. These weapons assist law enforcement officers to carry out their duties. Law enforcement officers travel in various vehicles, automotive, aircraft, and watercraft. Such officers predominantly use upgraded sedans and now SUV. In those vehicles, weapons face transportation risks much like cargo of the olden days. In those vehicles, weapons face new risks from skilled thieves and perhaps gunrunners for extra-legal groups.

Law enforcement officers deal with active shooter situations more and more often. In those situations, a person or persons have opened fire on civilians and law enforcement must respond instantly. Law enforcement officers, also called first responders, do not have the luxury of time to travel to the police armory and load up emergency gear and special equipment prior to responding: the public expects them there already. Special units, like SWAT, take time to muster and then respond. SWAT teams generally have a small percentage of people responding to an emergency. That leaves patrol officers, your typical cop, to protect the public, instantly. Patrol officers must have their specialized weapons and safety equipment immediately available to them, in their patrol cars, so to respond safely and instantly to an active shooter situation, a riot, and the like. Any and all on duty officers must have the proper equipment, with them, to respond to these active shooter, terrorist, and other calls. At the same time, police automotive vehicles become smaller as the amount of police equipment grows.

The rising number of active shooter situations and fluctuating terrorist threats call for more law enforcement officers to respond differently than in the past, the recent past no less. Law enforcement officers must respond directly to the scene, such as the Boston marathon bombing, the Sandy Hook, Conn. school shooting, and the Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooting. Law enforcement officers must have all of their active shoot equipment that they may need to deploy. And the equipment must remain secure within a vehicle but transfer readily from one vehicle to the next as a law enforcement officer transfers. The need for preparation and swift response has expanded from just the patrol units and SWAT teams to others. Even off-duty officers must have the preparation and equipment to respond directly to a scene. Management of law enforcement, such as command staff, administrators, and detectives must also prepare and equip themselves to respond to a scene as well. As these various persons prepare and respond to a scene, security of the equipment and convenience to a law enforcement officer become critical to effective and safe deployments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Over the years, various containers for weapons have appeared. Army units utilize racks with locking arms, cables, and chains to store weapons in arms rooms protected by JSIIDS, joint service interior intrusion detection system, or other systems. Once a weapon is removed from an arms room, a soldier has physical contact with it at all times. However, a law enforcement officer generally keeps his weapon holstered to avoid alarming the public. A law enforcement officer has additional weapons stored in his vehicle or other location ready for the “load and respond” call to reach him. Various suppliers have provided metal lockers of hardened steel with locking mechanisms and hingedly connected steel lids. The lockers have a size and a weight suitable for lifting and placement into a vehicle trunk. Preferably the lids remain connected to the box and some models have a self closing lid. If a law enforcement officer has a shield, it fits within the prior art box and occupies a portion of the box's volume.

The prior art has also provided various gun safes, gun cabinets, and upright lockers. These containers keep guns under lock and key however the containers and their doors do not lend themselves to lifting and loading into the trunk of a patrol car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The detachable shield for tactical equipment box has a rectangular form with an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, a long first edge and a mutually parallel and spaced apart second edge, at least two hinges upon the first edge that cooperate with second hinges mounted to a box, a second lock component that cooperates with a prime lock component mounted to a box opposite the second hinges, and a handle joined to the inner surface. The first hinges, handle, and second lock component join to the shield without fracturing it as with ballistic bolts, pan headed mechanical fasteners, or adhesives. The first hinges separate from the second hinges so that a law enforcement officer can take the shield from the box for use as a protective device from projectiles. In an alternate embodiment, the second component joins to the inner surface along with a reinforcing strip along the second edge.

The shield of the invention cooperates with other components to function as a portable single container that stores critical deployment gear of a law enforcement officer, including a rifle, other weapons, ammunition, ballistic helmet, body armor, and the like. The container has a box of a size that fits into the trunks of sedans used for law enforcement and into the rear areas of SUVs. The box has handles upon its four sides so that a law enforcement officer can carry the box and transfer it between one vehicle to another. The box includes solid D-rings or other feature that provides for securement, using a cable, of the box to the vehicle. The securement meets or exceeds federal regulatory standards.

The invention's shield maximizes the equipment that can be stored within a box equipped with the shield. The shield allows off duty officers to store their prescribed equipment safely in their homes so it remains available for “load and respond” situations. The invention's shield also cooperates with a programmable lock with key override. The invention's shield removes quickly from the remainder of a box so that a law enforcement officer has complete access within the box to its contents. The shield of the invention, though functioning as a lid to the box, also operates as an NIJ certified ballistic shield.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. The present invention also includes a plurality of handles for the shield, lighting upon the shield, windows within the shield, a length less than five feet, and cooperative securement with cable to vehicle systems. The shield of the invention in cooperation with a box provides an all in one secure storage, ease of handling and loading into a vehicle, ease of transport, and an integral ballistic shield. With the shield operating as a lid for the box, the shield saves on volume within the box for use by other equipment. The shield permits stacking of boxes upon it for storage at a police armory and more often at the home of a law enforcement officer. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

One object of the present invention is to provide a detachable shield for tactical equipment box that operates as a lid upon a weapons strongbox and as a shield for an officer.

Another object is to provide such a detachable shield for tactical equipment box that detaches abruptly from the remainder of the strongbox.

Another object is to provide such a detachable shield for tactical equipment box made and distributed at a price suitable for purchase by law enforcement officers and various departments and agencies through retail stores, catalog supply houses, government contracting and procurement, and the like.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 provides a top perspective view of a box to receive the invention;

FIG. 2 shows another top perspective view of a box that receives the invention;

FIG. 3 describes a top perspective view of a box having the invention thereon;

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of a shield of the invention; and,

FIG. 5 provides a detail view of a connection of the invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present art overcomes the prior art limitations by providing a detachable shield for tactical equipment box. A tactical equipment box, or box, may take on many forms. However, as firearm weapons have a generally elongated and slender shape, boxes have a similar elongated shape, preferably rectangular prismatic. FIG. 1 has a top perspective view of a box 1 having a rectangular shape extended prismatically. The box has a rectangular front 2 and a mutually parallel, spaced apart rectangular back 3. Two mutually parallel and spaced apart sides 4 span between the front and the back. The sides 4 have a generally perpendicular orientation to the front and the back as shown. Perpendicular to and beneath the sides, the front, and the back, the box has a bottom 5 generally placed first into a vehicle's trunk during usage. The sides have a height above the bottom that defines the height of the front and the back. The front and the back have mutually similar lengths and their lengths generally exceed that of the sides.

Upon the back 3 generally spaced opposite the bottom 5, the box has at least two, and up to and including nine second hinges 6. The Applicant prefers three second hinges 6 as shown. The second hinges have a mutual spacing selected for even load distribution to the back 3 and to a shield later shown. Opposite the second hinges, the front 2 has a prime component 7 of a lock assembly. This prime component has a cylinder for keyed access and an electronic portion for combination access. The prime component has an aperture, not shown, to receive a secondary component upon the shield later shown.

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of a box 1 with the back 3 towards the foreground and a side 4 to the right in this figure. The back has the second hinges 6, here shown as three, spaced above the bottom and inwardly from corners 8 defined as lines of abutment between the sides and the back. Corners also exist where the front abuts the sides. The second hinges have a position generally within the box, that is, upon an inner surface 9 of the back. As later shown, the second hinges secure to the back and a portion of that securement appears visible upon the exterior of the back. Alternatively, the second hinges connect entirely to the interior surface of the back without penetration to the exterior surface. The second hinges, in all embodiments, have a spacing that limits flexing of the shield later shown. The limit of the spacing prevents a thief from prying into the box between the hinges and deforming the shield.

Having referred to the shield previously, FIG. 3 shows a shield 10 in a top perspective view upon the box 1 generally opposite the bottom 5. The shield has a width 10 a at least that of the length of a side 4 and a length 10 b similar to that of the front and the back. The shield rests upon the sides, the front, and the back above the bottom with a smooth and flush joint. Once more, the joint of the shield to contiguous edges limits the opportunity for a thief to pry beneath the shield and gain entry to the box. The shield has a generally rectangular form with an outer surface 11 showing in this figure. The shield may have an arcuate cross section as shown or alternatively a flat cross section. The shield has a first edge 13 oriented generally parallel to the back 3 and a mutually parallel and spaced apart second edge 14 oriented generally parallel to the front 2.

Upon the first edge, the shield has a plurality of first hinges 12 of the same number as the second hinges previously shown. The first hinges cooperate with the second hinges so that the shield pivots upwardly from the box towards the back so that a law enforcement officer may access the contents within the box. Because the first hinges join to the shield, the shield may separate from the box as desired by the law enforcement officer.

When a law enforcement officer removes the shield 10 from the box 1, the shield appears in a bottom view in FIG. 4. The shield has its rectangular form but with its inner surface 15 showing in this figure. Upon the inner surface and spaced between the second edge 14 and the first edge 13, the shield has an elongated handle 16 spaced away from the center of the shield as shown. Upon the first edge, the shield has the plurality of first hinges 12. Each first hinge has a generally reversed J like shape having a long stem 12 a, a base 12 b, and a mutually parallel and spaced apart short stub 12 c outwardly from the stem. The long stem attaches the first hinge to the shield using ballistic bolts, an adhesive, rivet, and the like. For stability, the long stem has two connections, as at 12 d, to the shield's inner surface. The base spaces the short stub away from the stem so that the stub engages a cooperating member in a second hinge. The cooperating member may include a slot that accepts the stub slid into it. Typically the first hinges all have the same orientation with their stubs aligned in the same direction as shown. This alignment allows a law enforcement officer to insert the stubs readily and to remove them faster when deploying the shield away from the box. Here, the stubs extend slightly beyond the first edge to allow for engagement with the second hinges. In an alternate embodiment, the stubs remain within the first edge.

The shield also has a second component 17 of the lock generally opposite the first hinges, that is, upon the second edge 14. The second component joins to the shield as do the first hinges as in ballistic bolts, an adhesive, rivet, and the like. The second component extends outwardly from the plane of the shield, that is, towards the reader so it may engage the prime component of the lock. The second component has a hook like, hasp like, or other shape suitable for clasping with the prime component of the lock. This figure shows one second component because having a single lock speeds a law enforcement officer when unlocking the shield from the box.

However, as described above, the shield seeks to limit the opportunity for a thief to pry between it and the box. A single second component may present an unbraced length of the second edge 14 so that a thief may pry it. In an alternate embodiment, the shield includes a reinforcing bar merged into it along the second edge 14.

And turning to FIG. 5, each first hinge 12 connects to the shield in a manner that maintains the integrity of it and avoids shattering it. The shield remains intact when used and abused as a lid and when later deployed in its purpose to protect an officer from projectiles. Each first hinge has its shape as previously described with a long stem 12 a. The long stem has positions for physical connection to the shield. The connection, as at 12 d, may take the form of ballistic bolts, here shown in a paired arrangement, as adhesive bonding to the shield in two positions or along the length of the long stem, or like connection. The second component of the lock connects similarly.

From the aforementioned description, a detachable shield for tactical equipment box has been described. The detachable shield for tactical equipment box is uniquely capable of securing to a box sufficiently to meet federal weapons storage regulations and removing readily from the box for use as a shield against projectiles. Further, the detachable shield for tactical equipment box may also have additional hinge points and a reinforced second edge. The detachable shield for tactical equipment box and its various components may be manufactured from many materials, including but not limited to, polymers, such as nylon, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, ferrous and non-ferrous metal foils, their alloys, ceramics, and composites.

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments have been described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations have been described as multiple discrete operations, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention, however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

Moreover, in the specification and the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” “third” and the like—when they appear—are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to allow the reader to ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Therefore, the claims include such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A device for securing a box and protecting a person during its later usage, the box having a front, a back, two sides, and a bottom, the front having a prime component of a lock upon it, the device comprising: a shield generally rectangular, having a first edge and an opposite second edge, an outer surface and an opposite inner surface; at least two first hinges connecting to said first edge of said shield; at least two second hinges adapted to connect to the front of the box; a second component of a lock connecting to said shield proximate said second edge; each of said first hinges cooperatively engaging each of said second hinges; wherein said shield is adapted to have a closed position upon the box enclosing it when said first hinges engage said second hinges; and, wherein said shield is adapted to separate from the box as said first hinges disengage from said second hinges.
 2. The box securing and person protecting shield of claim 1 further comprising: a handle upon said inner surface.
 3. The box securing and person protecting shield of claim 1 further comprising: reinforcement upon said inner surface proximate said second edge.
 4. The box securing and person protecting shield of claim 1 further comprising: at least one light upon said shield, preferably upon said outer surface. 